TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama football team held its first practice for the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, Monday afternoon at the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility. The Crimson Tide worked for two hours in shells as it prepares for its rematch against the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers.

"I was pleased with today's practice," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "We are going back and starting this just like we are starting camp over. We will do the same installations and same fundamentals and do that all five days this week."

Alabama returned to practice for the first time since preparing for Auburn in the Iron Bowl, three weeks ago. The Tide has spent the time off studying for finals, conditioning and traveling to their respective award banquets.

The two teams will meet for the second time as the Southeastern Conference champion Tigers got the best of the Tide by the score of 9-6, in a Nov. 5 meeting in Tuscaloosa that was decided in overtime.

The game will be held on Monday, January 9, 2012 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. The game will be televised by ESPN and will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (CST).